Sons of Liberty Gun Works is one of the most prominent names in the firearms industry. They have an assortment of high-quality rifle and parts options to their name, garnering a solid reputation.
Still, compared to some of the other premium names in the space, SOLGW is a relatively young company, getting their start in the early 2010s. In a relatively brief time, they’ve carved out their niche, expanding their lineup to include a wide array of products that cater to many enthusiast’s preferences.
Below, we’re looking at SOLGW, highlighting their beginnings, product lineup, and why they’ve become the popular option they are today.
Who are Sons of Liberty Gun Works?
Sons of Liberty Gun Works is a renowned rifle manufacturer founded in 2012, quickly rising to prominence as one of the leading AR-15 rifle and parts manufacturers in the industry, known for their high-quality craftsmanship, reliability, and unique offerings.
Taking inspiration from the Sons of Liberty of the American Revolution, the team at SOLGW initially got their start by producing small-batch AR-15s. As their reputation for quality and innovation grew, they expanded their operations to meet the increasing demand for their products. Today, SOLGW is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, and now offers a wide array of different AR-15s, with newer AR-10 style rifles currently in development.
SOLGW Rifles
SOLGW has solidified its position in the firearms industry with its diverse range of rifles, each emphasizing quality and utility. Each one emphasizes quality and utility, and some of their most popular rifle variants is the M4 series AR-15 rifles.
M4-89 rifles are equipped with full-length M-LOK handguards, B5 Systems furniture, ambidextrous safety selectors, and ambidextrous charging handles. One of their standout features is their use of an A5 buffer system instead of a carbine one. The A5 Buffer System was initially developed by VLTOR to achieve the smoother recoil impulse of rifle-length buffer while maintaining the utility of the carbine system. As such, these buffer assemblies have more stock positions and work to enhance the overall feel of the rifle.
These rifles are offered in different configurations, with either a 16-, 14.5-, or a unique 13.7-inch barrel. For legality, the 14.5-inch and 13.7-inch barrels are pinned and welded to have a legal rifle length of 16 inches. Each model comes with a specific handguard, such as the M89 Drivelock handguard for the M89 rifle or the L89 handguard for the M4-L89. Either way, SOGLW is easily one of the best brands with AR-15s $2,000 and under.
If you’re going for more of a shorter option, they also produce a handful of short barrel rifle (SBR) variants of their popular models. These rifles all have the same features as the models above, but have either a 10.5-, 11.5-, or 12.5-inch barrel.
SOLGW Receivers
Being at the forefront of the firearms industry, it’s no surprise that there is an assortment of SOLGW upper and lower receivers to choose from. Depending on your preference, they provide stripped, assembled, and complete uppers, as well as stripped and complete lowers.
Upper Receivers
As for their uppers, their stripped M4 Upper Receiver is one of the most popular in their lineup. It’s constructed out of 7075-T6 aluminum and has a hardcoat anodized finish, making it a solid mil-spec upper receiver that’s both lightweight and durable. They also produce another upper, the Broadsword 89, which is designed to have better lockup with SOLGW’s M89 and L89 handguards, resulting in less point-of-impact shift when in rough conditions.
If you aren’t interested in building an upper, SOLGW has you covered. Complete uppers like their M4-89 and East India Starter Kit series are available in multiple configurations, catering to different preferences. The M4-89 is one of the flagship offerings from SOLGW, coming standard with a free-floating M-LOK Handguard, either a 9-, 10.5-, 13.9-, 14.5-, 16-, or 18-inch barrel, and they’re available in either 5.56 NATO, .300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, or 6mm ARC.
For a more budget-friendly option, their East India Starter Kit uppers are a superb choice. These uppers come equipped with barrel and gas assembly already pre-installed onto the rifle, however they don’t include a handguard, charging handle, BCG, or muzzle device, making these uppers a blank canvas for your ideal build. Depending on which one you look at, they can come with either a low-profile or a pinned FSB. Regardless, these uppers simplify the build process, allowing you to configure the rifle as you please, without needing to do any major assembly.
Lower Receivers
SOLGW offers a few distinct lower receivers, with the M4 complete lower being a popular one. It’s equipped with furniture from B5 Systems, a mil-spec buffer system, an H buffer with a sprinco blue spring, a quick detach end plate, and an enhanced trigger. It pairs well with any AR-15 upper, providing a reliable and high-quality foundation for your build.
They have plenty of options for builders too. Their standard stripped lower uses the dependable mil-spec design. Made from 7075-T6 aluminum, it’s ready to be built out with the parts of your choosing. Although it’s a solid lower receiver, it’s rather basic in its features. If you’re looking for some added utility, their ambidextrous billet lower receiver might be a better fit for you.
A more premium choice, this lower was created in a collaborative effort between SOLGW and Forward Controls Design. As such, it’s directly compatible with the ambidextrous lower parts from FCD. Unlike their mil-spec lower, which is forged, SOLGW’s ambidextrous lower receiver is a billet lower that’s been meticulously milled down from a single block of aluminum. By doing this, it not only offers tighter tolerances, but it has some extra enhancements such as an integrated trigger guard and a flared mag well for easier reloads.
SOLGW Barrels
An AR’s barrel is one of its most crucial components, determining how much the rifle can be used, as well as how it performs. Fortunately, SOLGW offers a wide array of barrels, ranging from standard AR barrels to more specialized ones for different builds.
Combat Grade Series
Combat Grade series barrels are popular for their durability and versatility. Constructed out of 41v50 CMV steel and nitride coated for better corrosion resistance, standard Combat Grade barrels are available in multiple barrel lengths and calibers. They also have a shorter gas journal for better weight distribution and balance, and they have button rifled bores. While these barrels are incredibly durable and effective, you can also opt for their upgraded Combat Grade V2 barrel.
V2 barrels are remarkably like the standard options with similar length and caliber options, however, they feature an upgraded design for better accuracy and longevity. The primary difference in these barrels is their weight distribution. They feature a larger chamber port size, shifting most of the barrel weight to the middle of the rifle. If you ran a light, IR unit, or a suppressor on your rifle, it would become very muzzle heavy; these barrels aim to eliminate that, resulting in a better-balanced rifle with a stiffer barrel for reduced POI shift.
Also, V2 barrels can be cold hammer forged instead of button rifled. CHF barrels are designed to withstand higher temperatures for longer periods of time and offer longer life span with the ability to fire more rounds overall.
Precision Series
For rifle builds emphasizing accuracy, SOLGW’s precision series barrels are where it’s at. Instead of using 41v50 steel, these barrels are made from 416R Stainless Steel, making them incredibly accurate and durable. Their SPR barrels have a black oxide finish, use 3-groove polygonal rifling for enhanced accuracy. These barrels are available in a few different calibers, with one of the most popular being .223 Wylde.
.223 Wylde chambers allow you to use both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO, giving you access to a broader spectrum of ammo types. These barrels can be chambered in other calibers as well, such as 6mm ARC and 6mm Max, which are perfect calibers for an AR-15 SPR build.
SOLGW Bolt Carrier Groups
The bolt carrier group is arguably an AR’s most vital component. Acting as the heart of the rifle, it’s responsible for ejecting spent casings and chambering fresh cartridges. BCGs also handle a lot of stress when firing, as they come in direct contact with hot gas after firing and slam into the buffer to cycle the rifle. This excess stress makes having a high-quality BCG crucial for any build.
Each of SOLGW’s BCGs are made from durable materials. Carpenter 158 steel makes up the bolt itself, while 8620 Carpenter Steel is used for the carrier. Once assembled, each BCG undergoes a high-pressure test to ensure that it can withstand pressures well-over what 5.56 NATO can produce. Afterwards, SOLGW also performs a magnetic particle inspection on their bolts, checking for any defects that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
This dedication to quality and scrupulous inspection process makes their BCGs an excellent option to consider. While the most popular SOLGW BCG is their standard M16 BCG, they produce other models as well. Their chrome 5.56 BCG has all the same features previously mentioned, but it is hard chrome plated for better corrosion resistance as well as a smoother action. They also offer BCGs for other caliber ammunition like 6.5 Grendel and 6mm ARC.
SOLGW Accessories
SOLGW’s commitment to quality doesn’t stop with just their rifles and parts. They produce an assortment of top-tier accessories as well, ranging from armoring tools to muzzle devices and even apparel.
Armorer Punch Kit
Starting with their tools, the SOLGW Armorer’s Punch Kit includes all the punches necessary for both AR-15 assembly and maintenance when necessary. This kit even comes with a SOLGW branded Magpul DAKA pouch, so you can easily store your tools and keep them in your range bag for when it’s needed.
Muzzle Devices
SOLGW also offers muzzle devices as well. Their NOX muzzle device is available in multiple configurations such as a three-prong flash hider, or a one- or two-chamber muzzle brake. These muzzle devices can also act as suppressor hosts with different mounting options, such as Keymount or Dead Air Xeno, depending on the model. Many of these muzzle devices are included on their complete uppers we mentioned above.
Charging Handles
If you’re choosing a charging handle for your AR-15, SOLGW’s ambidextrous charging handle is constructed from aluminum and features a snag-free design. For some added durability, they’re enhanced with a hard coat anodized finish for better resistance to weather, corrosion, and abrasion.
Another unique feature of these charging handles is the larger rear lip on the handle body. It creates a tighter seal in the upper, diverting excess away from your face when it vents out of the upper. This makes shooting suppressed much more enjoyable, plus, they’re available in multiple finishes to better suit your preferences.
Conclusion
Sons of Liberty Gun Works has become a firmly established manufacturer in recent years, becoming one of the most prominent leaders of the firearms industry. Their dedication to producing top-tier rifles, components, and accessories has been a driving force to their success and will only continue to increase their positive notoriety and reputation.
Whether you’re new to owning an AR-15 or you are already own a few, SOLGW’s products offer superior performance and longevity. Regardless of which rifle or part you look at, it’s crucial that you research each one before you make a final decision. So long as you’ve made sure that whatever you go with fits your needs and preferences, you’ll be good to go.
With SOLGW parts, you can rest assured knowing you have top-tier options going into your build, regardless of its purpose. If you’re planning out a defensive AR-15 build, our guide on building an AR-15 for home defense makes the process easy, going in-depth with everything to consider before building one.
